Athens calls for pro-growth policies as 'Club Med' gathers

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for policies to foster growth as he prepared to host a summit of southern European states on Friday, saying they needed to have a bigger say in the future of Europe.

Tsipras was due to host the leaders of France, Italy, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus to discuss the future of the European Union, against the backdrop of faltering growth in the bloc, a deepening migrant crisis and British plans to quit the union.

The group is often referred to as "Club Med", even though Portugal is not on the Mediterranean.

Economic stagnation, the rise of euroskepticism and a strengthening of the far-right were issues which needed to be addressed, Tsipras told the EurActiv news website in an interview.

"In such a debate, Europe's Mediterranean countries can and must raise their voice. The way to have a bigger say is to seek a common...